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(Memorial Wharf – Edgartown)
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas on MV and a lot is going on.
The calendars of events for December are chock full of things for everyone. Take a look at these links.
Some highlights for the month are:
Dec 3 -*Oak Bluffs - Wed at 6:30 is the lighting of the Christmas tree in Post Office Square.
Dec 13 -West Tisbury - Sat is the 1st Annual Artisans Holiday Fair at the Grange Hall from 10 to 4.
Dec 31 - Vineyard Haven – Last Night/First Day. A two day event to welcome in the New Year.
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Christmas in Edgartown
Dec 11 – 13, 2009
*Christmas in Edgartown is a three day holiday event that you won’t want to miss. Just look here at the list of things to do and you’ll see why it takes three days to fit everything in.
The parade
Town decorations
Donaroma’s Evening of Enchantment
*Inn tours which include: Ashley Inn, Hob Knob, Point Way Inn, Harbor View Resort & Hotel
*Minnesingers holiday concert at the Old Whaling Church Friday 8 pm & Saturday 4pm
*Holiday Parade – Saturday at 10am
That’s only three of the myriad of things to do… check out the full three day schedule.
The Dukes County Courthouse in Edgartown turns 150 years old this year. It was completed Sep 30, 1858… the only brick building in Edgartown at the time. The superior court has sat, uninterrupted, in the courthouse for all of those 150 years.
According to the very interesting article in the Vineyard Gazette:
“The building’s vaults, with rows of banged-up cabinets, hold records going back to the 1600s, when Native American residents spoke and were recorded in their own language. Many of the words and sentences are recorded on brown, brittle paper in leather-bound ledgers in the registry of deeds and in superior court.“
also…
“The varnished wooden furniture in the courtroom predates the memories of the living. The leather cushions on its seats are stuffed with horse hair. No one can remember when the roof didn’t leak.“
(read the entire article by CLICKING HERE)
I’ve passed this stately building, which sits inconspicuously on the corner across from the Old Whaling Church, zillions of times and never gave much thought to what history it holds, or what has gone on inside. Happy anniversay and here’s to another 150 years.
Happy Thanksgiving
“As I sit and look out over the cliffs, I see the sea stretched before me like velvety blue ribbons. Above the sea, the sky is dashed with specks of white clouds. The sea deep in its color overflows with mystery, silent forever with an abundance of secrets.
A ship slowly moves across the narrow line of the horizon, touching both the sea and the sky. It is bound for a destination unknown to me, but full of adventure for my imagination.
Below me are the colorful cliffs…golden and rusted with age. They are slowly yielding their magical clay to the possessiveness of the sea. The shore line is a multitude of mixed colors fading as they extend outward to the horizon. “
(Leave a comment to find out who wrote the above description).
(the above photos were taken by my daughter Deb)
My daughter Deb’s share of MV Fiber Farm wool arrived in September… click here to read that post.
This batch she spun is un-dyed.
This batch of wool was dyed by her friend Jessica of Zarzuela Knits (check out her Etsy shop). Stay tuned to see what gorgeous yarn this spins into.
Notice the colors are the same as the MV Fiber Farm logo.
(*Please take a look at my new photo blog called Through Jersey Eyes)
Whaling was in its prime from about 1820 until the Civil War. Edgartown had its own fleet of whaling ships and thus its share of whaling captains.
Dr Daniel Fisher was not a whaling captain, but his home, built in 1840, is one of the loveliest in Edgartown. Besides being a doctor he was a successful and versatile businessman. He supplied whale oil to many US lighthouses, he owned a candle factory on the harbor, a hardtack bakery, a flour mill in N Tisbury, and he founded the Martha’s Vineyard National Bank. The Dr Daniel Fisher house in now owned by the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust.
The Harborside Inn on S Water Street is made up of seven buildings several of which are 19th century whaling captain’s homes.
These homes are also on S Water Street, the Victorian Inn is among them.
N Water Street has an abundance of captain’s homes also. This is one of the prettiest streets in Edgartown.
The Charlotte Inn on S Summer Street is a cluster of five 18th and 19th century homes.
These are but a few of the gorgeous, beautifully restored captain’s homes. When you’re on MV enjoy wandering through the streets of Edgartown and see them for yourself. I particularly like early Sunday mornings for my jaunts.
Happy anniversary to daughter Patty and son-in-law Mike
Then
Now
Last November I wrote a post about my mother losing her diamond engagement ring in the sand at Oak Bluffs. You can click here and read ‘Ring-A-Ding-Ding.’
In flipping throug my memory bank I discovered that my mother had yet another ring experience years later in the 1960′s concerning MV, Oak Bluffs in particular.
This is my mother on her graduation day from Oak Bluffs High School in 1926. Before the MV Regional High School was built in the early 1960′s, each town had its own high school. And, each school had its own ring. I remember the ring clearly, it was gold with a flat black front with the emblem for OB high school on it… along the sides was the year, 1926. My mother loved that ring and was devastated when, one day she couldn’t find it.
If you’ve read the post about the first ring you’ll know that my dad was determined to find that ring.. he was the only hope. He turned our apartment upside down… inside out… searched behind every cushion and pillow… moved furniture… moved it again. He took apart the drain in the kitchen and bathroom sinks. Went through every drawer, every closet, every pocket, every nook and cranny. But alas, his powers of ring finding failed him, and the beloved ring was decreed officially…. gone.
My mother was beyond upset. Her mother had gotten the ring for her though times were tough, and now, a tangible connection to Martha’s Vineyard and to her mother was gone.
But wait…. there is a happy ending…
… behold… an Oak Bluffs High School ring with 1926 on it ! How could that be? My mother contacted MV Regional High School and found out the name of the company who provided the school rings. She wrote the company a letter and got back a response saying that yes, they had rings but NOT the style of the lost one. However, they could make up a ring in the current style and put the OB emblem and 1926 on it. She ordered it. It’s a beautiful ring and she wore it occasionally… but of course it never replaced the original one.
I wonder what becomes of lost jewelry? Especially the sentimental ones that become enhanced to epic proportions in your memory.
Happy birthday Deb, I love you …
